Posted on: Wednesday, May 29, 2002

Man pleads guilty in Ma'ili Point fatalities

Advertiser Staff

A Ma'ili man involved in a July 2000 head-on collision near Ma'ili Point that killed two women and critically injured several others pleaded guilty yesterday in Circuit Court to two counts of first-degree negligent homicide.

Jones Pele Poti, 56, also pleaded guilty to three counts of causing negligent injuries in the first-degree and one count of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death or serious injury.

Police said Poti was driving a white pickup truck toward Wai'anae on Farrington Highway when he sideswiped a Pontiac Grand Am traveling in the same direction, forcing it into oncoming traffic, where the car collided head-on with a Ford sedan.

Elizabeth Kahalepuna, 58, of Honokai Hale, and Janet Joseph, 67, of Makaha, were killed in the crash.

Poti was originally charged with manslaughter, which carries a 20-year maximum sentence, prosecutors said, but pleaded guilty to the lesser first-degree negligent homicide charges which each carry a maximum 10-year term. As part of the plea agreement, Poti agreed to serve a maximum 10-year sentence, according to city prosecutors.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins set Poti's sentencing for July 26. City Deputy Prosecutor Sherri-Ann Chun handled the case against Poti.